Every year at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, we see children who have been burned. Working in the Burn Clinic, I often hear family members say, “If only I had not left the lighter out where he could reach it,” or “if only we hadn’t lit that candle.” Accidents happen, but many burns can be prevented by keeping a few easy tips in mind …Continue reading →
Barb Riordan, BSN, RN
When a bowl of soup becomes dangerous
“All I did was turn my back for a moment, and the next thing I knew, my child was burned!” This is a phrase the staff in the Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin Burn Program hears all too often. And really, that’s all the time it takes for a child to get burned. …Continue reading this post
Summer fire safety: Safety Tips for Outdoor Cooking and Fire Pits
Summertime means lots of fun outdoor activities both during the day as well as at night. Whether it’s outdoor cooking or telling a story around the fire pit, both pose potential injury risk, especially for children. Kids love toasted marshmallows, but adults should be the ones to toast them. Remember marshmallows get hot and can burn.
Every summer Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin sees a number of injuries related to fire pit use. These injuries …Continue reading this post
A burning topic of interest
Brrrr—it’s cold out there. Or at least it is here. It’s February in Wisconsin, and we expect this weather. We try lots of different things to stay warm, but often we don’t realize these things could cause serious burns. This is national Burn Awareness Week and as a nurse with Children’s Hospital’s burn program, I’d like share a few burn prevention tips to help keep you and your family safe this winter: …Continue reading →
Thoughts on holiday fire safety
Holidays just aren’t the same without the traditional decorations. As you decorate your home and spend time with family and friends, please be aware of potential dangers from holiday decorations that could lead to fires and injuries.
Christmas trees:
- If you buy an artificial tree, make sure it’s fire resistant. It doesn’t mean the tree won’t …Continue reading →
Comfort food without the burn
Cold winter days make us crave comfort food, don’t they? From hot cocoa and chicken noodle soup to macaroni and cheese and ramen noodles, we’re all looking for ways to stay warm. For me it’s a hot cup of tea after a long drive home.
As a nurse with the Burn Program at Children’s Hospital, I see way too many kids who are hurt when they pull a container of hot liquid onto themselves or are left unsupervised in the kitchen.